Power Electronics is an online site covering a wide range of power supply design articles, as well as new and emerging technologies. Among the newer power electronics technologies are electric vehicles, LED lighting, wireless power transfer, digital power control, energy harvesting, Power over Ethernet (PoE) and non-silicon power semiconductors. The emerging technologies include alternative energy
sources, such as ocean, wind, and solar systems. In addition, PE monitors other new power technologies so it can describe them in detail when the information becomes available. Besides the online site which is updated on a daily basis, PE produces a weekly newsletter that focuses on new products, industry news and selected articles from the website. PE is effective because it speaks the language of the power electronics design engineer. Derived from over 36 years of covering power electronics, this language backs up technically-oriented text with associated equations and detailed circuit diagrams. No other trade publication matches that format. This helps fulfill the site's primary mission of ensuring that power electronics design engineers keep pace with new components and technologies. This self-education process enables designers to be more productive in their jobs. From its start as a print magazine, Power Electronics has played a significant role in nurturing growth of the power electronics industry. The magazine began in 1975 as Solid-State Power Conversion under the guidance of Myron Miller, its founder/publisher. In its next incarnations it was called Power Conversion and Intelligent Motion, and later PCIM Power Electronic Systems. The magazine continued with similar subjects when it changed its name to Power Electronics Technology in 2001. In its early years articles covered power supply designs employing linear techniques. Then, the move to switch-mode technologies brought those subjects to the attention of the magazine’s readers. When the magazine’s name changed to PCIM, articles covering motion systems were added to the editorial mix. In mid 2013, Power Electronics transitioned completely to an online site. Now, in the 21st century the site covers a broader range of power electronics technologies that are now or will be of interest to design engineers. Designers must be aware of these new technologies because the power electronics industry is expanding. A key indicator that power electronic applications are expanding is the use of power semiconductors. A forecast by IMS Research predicts the global power discrete semiconductor and module market will grow by $10 billion to reach $25.5 billion in 2015.
